Chapter 5
Adrian stood completely still in the center of his study, the weight of Emma’s words crashing over him like a tidal wave.
James had loved this woman. James had wanted to build a quiet, peaceful life far away from the dark empire Adrian had sacrificed his own youth to protect. And in the end, James had left behind a living, breathing legacy—a fearless, cheerful three-year-old girl with blonde curls, blue eyes, and her father’s identical habits.
Adrian looked past Emma toward the sofa. Nora was sitting on the rug, carefully balancing a wooden block on top of a makeshift tower. She paused, tilted her head to the left, rested her chin on her curled fist, and studied the wooden tower with intense concentration.
A sharp ache bloomed in Adrian’s chest—a rare, profound grief mixed with an overwhelming sense of wonder.
"She has his eyes," Adrian murmured quietly, his deep voice losing its harsh edge. "She has his exact posture."
Emma wiped her face with the corner of her white apron, watching Adrian’s reaction closely. "She doesn't know anything about the syndicate, Adrian. She just thinks her daddy is a star in the sky who left her a shiny box."
Adrian walked slowly over to the sofa. The towering Mafia boss dropped down onto one knee beside the toddler. He looked at Nora, seeing her not as the housekeeper's daughter, but as Nora Cole—his blood niece, the rightful heir to the Cole legacy, and the last surviving piece of his beloved brother.
Nora looked up from her blocks, her rosy face lighting up with a warm smile. "Look, Uncle Adrian! I made a big house!"
Adrian’s dark eyes widened slightly at the word Uncle. He looked up at Emma, who offered a soft, tearful nod.
"I told her stories about her uncle," Emma explained quietly from behind him. "I told her her uncle was the strongest man in the world, who kept the whole city safe."
Adrian’s rugged features softened into a genuine, handsome expression that completely erased his terrifying aura. He reached out with his broad, tattooed hand and gently brushed a blonde curl away from Nora’s forehead.
"It’s a very fine house, Nora," Adrian said softly, his American accent smooth and tender. "But I think we need to make sure it has stronger walls."
"Strong walls?" Nora asked, tilting her head.
"The strongest," Adrian promised, looking back at Emma with an expression of absolute, unyielding protection. "Emma... your days as a housekeeper in this mansion are over."
Emma’s breath hitched. "Adrian, no... the staff will ask questions. The guards—"
"I don't care about the guards," Adrian interrupted, rising to his feet, his broad shoulders squared. "Nora is a Cole. She carries my brother's blood. Starting today, you and Nora move into the master suite in the east wing. You will have private security, private tutors, and full access to the family estate."
"Adrian, if the other families find out James had an heir..." Emma warned, her voice laced with sudden anxiety.
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"Let them find out," Adrian growled softly, his dark eyes flashing with a dangerous, lethal promise. "I spent three years grieving my brother. I will spend the rest of my life protecting his daughter. Anyone who steps foot on this property to threaten her will find out why people call me a monster."
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